It’s 17th March – Happy St Patrick’s Day! In this blog, Roisín Kerr, Policy and Communications Manager, talks about the importance of being able to access information that is relevant to where you live.
This is the second in our series of blogs looking at information specific to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, you’re not alone. It’s important for you to:
Cancer information for Northern Ireland
Macmillan’s cancer information is written for everyone, but we know there are differences across the UK. We want our information to be relevant for people in Northern Ireland, and have taken the following steps to make sure it is.
Resources
Our booklet Your life and your choices: plan ahead was produced in partnership with the Public Health Agency. It explains how to plan for your future care in Northern Ireland.
Finding your way around our information
We created an easy navigation tool to help you spot where there are differences between UK countries:
Further support
We signpost to support organisations in Northern Ireland at the back of all our booklets and leaflets. This could be support for a specific cancer type or something more general, like a financial guidance organisation.
This information is only useful if people can access it, which is why we are working with an organisation in the heart of our local communities…
Macmillan and Libraries NI
I spoke with Ruth Thompson, Northern Ireland (NI) Strategic Partnership Manager, about a beneficial partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and Libraries NI. It’s an initiative that is helping people all over Northern Ireland to access the information they need close to home.
Ruth told me:
‘Macmillan in Northern Ireland has been working with Libraries NI to provide general information and advice about cancer in each one of Northern Ireland’s 96 public libraries, which are vital community hubs in local areas. The initiative is part of a wider network of information and support which includes Macmillan centres as the hub within cancer treatment facilities in Northern Ireland.
It’s important to many people that they have access to cancer information close to home, in a familiar and welcoming environment where they feel comfortable. Cancer patients can often feel overwhelmed with information during their time in hospital. More often than not, families and carers may have questions of their own.
A wide range of Macmillan booklets and leaflets are now available in every branch, and library staff have been offered cancer awareness training. This means that people affected by cancer find the information they want, and can be signposted to more complex practical, emotional and financial support. We are also developing a local volunteering role within our library information points.
Macmillan’s ambition is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer. Through our partnership with Libraries NI, we’re ensuring that people affected by cancer, their families, and carers, can access the right information at a time and in a place that is right for them.’
Keep in touch with Macmillan NI
For more information and support, you can follow Macmillan in Northern Ireland on:
• Twitter at @MacmillanNI
• Facebook at @MacmillanNI
• Blog at www.macmillanni.com
To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.
We're with you every step of the way
The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.
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Keep in touch Follow Macmillan’s cancer information team on Twitter @mac_cancerinfo
